Building a Nation: The US Constitution and the President's Oath of Office

Seminar Paper , 2009 , 17 Pages , Grade: 1

Theology - Practical Theology

There are many differences in their attitude towards religion in public life between european and US‐citizens and even though there is an agreement on the separation of church and state on both coasts of the Atlantic, the difference in how much of their own belief politicians are allowed to express when executing a public office seems to be as huge in scale like the water mass of the ocean between the two continents. No politician in the US could successfully run for a public office without at least some reference to God during his campaign and no european politician could achieve the same doing so. It’s not only the importance of civil religion in everyday’s life that draws a line of separation between Europe and the USA, there is also a great divide in how much of their own historical genesis is reflected among Europeans and Americans. For Americans, being true to the spirit and the intention of their “founding fathers” seems to be much more important than a European would agree to evaluate his or her being true to some spirit of the politicians that signed the “Contracts of Rome” in 1957 that created the beginning of today’s European Community they are living in.

The tremendous amount of discussion, negative and positive propaganda, political analysis and reservation among the people related to create a constitution (with or without any reference to God) for Europe too is only a small hint for how different and sensitive the public opinion is about being part of any legacy of foundation that was bequeathed by our ancestors in order to keep a dream alive they were fighting for long time ago. It is the constitution any new president of the United States has to swear an oath on the bible for and it might be an interesting task especially for an european citizen like me to take a closer look on this important document of US history, which is often referred to in many movies or television series (for instance “The West Wing”). After some historical background information about the United States of America I’ll present an overview of the Constitution itself and how it has been expanded by a total of 26 amendments so far. After this historical excursion, I’ll have a short look on how the new president of the United States Barack Obama thinks about the constitution and how important it has always been for him since his childhood. Finally, there will also be a brief analysis of his inaugural address given on January 20th.

Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)

• Introduction
• The Genesis Of The USA & The Constitution
• From colonial times to independence
• The articles of Confederation and the Constitution
• The Constitution of The United States
• Overview
• The articles and their sections
• Article I – The legislative branch
• Article two - The executive branch
• Article three – The judicial Branch
• Article four - The States
• Articles five, six and seven: amendments, debts, supremacy, oaths and ratification
• The “Bill Of Rights” and other amendments to the constitution
• Addressing „His“ Nation: Barack Obama's Inaugural speech
• „The Audacity Of Hope“: Barack Obama's Thoughts On The Constitution
• Summary
• References

Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)

This seminar paper aims to analyze the historical genesis of the United States, focusing on the creation of the US Constitution and its significance in shaping the nation's identity. The paper examines how the Constitution has evolved through amendments and its role in contemporary American society. It also delves into President Barack Obama's perspective on the Constitution and his inaugural address. Key themes explored in the paper include:

• The historical development of the US Constitution
• The role of the Constitution in shaping American identity and governance
• The influence of civil religion in American politics
• Barack Obama's perspectives on the Constitution and its importance
• Analysis of Barack Obama's inaugural address

Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)

The introductory chapter establishes the significance of the US Constitution and the "Declaration of Independence" in shaping American identity and distinguishes the American approach to public religion and historical legacy from European perspectives. Chapter two outlines the historical development of the United States, beginning with colonial times and the struggle for independence from Britain. It then explores the "Articles of Confederation" as a precursor to the Constitution and delves into the structure and significance of the Constitution's articles, including the "Bill of Rights" and subsequent amendments. Chapter three analyzes Barack Obama's inaugural speech, exploring its themes and significance within the context of the US Constitution. Chapter four presents Barack Obama's personal views on the Constitution, emphasizing its enduring importance in his life and political philosophy.

Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)

The paper focuses on the historical development of the United States, the Constitution, and its impact on American society, including the role of civil religion and political rhetoric. Key concepts include the Declaration of Independence, the Articles of Confederation, the Bill of Rights, Barack Obama, and the inaugural address.

• College: University of Graz
• Grade: 1
• Author: Mag. Markus Löhnert (Author)
• Publication Year: 2009
• Pages: 17
• Catalog Number: V134277
• ISBN (eBook): 9783640418114
• ISBN (Book): 9783640418282
• Language: English
• Tags: Constitution, Office Of The President, USA